Eels forward Shaun Lane admits it’s been a “weird” feeling at the club since Jason Ryles was hired as Parramatta head coach from next season.
Former Roosters and Storm assistant Ryles beat out several candidates for the job, including Eels’ current interim coach Trent Barrett, who has had to coach out the season despite knowing he’s unwanted from next year.
Since then, some players who have spoke publicly have admitted they don’t know where they stand with the club and incoming coach, while others have said they have spoken with Ryles.
It’s created a confusing environment with more questions than answers.
Speaking ahead of Parramatta’s ‘Spoon Bowl’ clash against the Tigers, Lane says it’s been a unique situation for the players to navigate through.
“It’s been a weird situation knowing that we’ve got a new coach coming in and then meanwhile we’re still getting coached by Baz (Barrett),” Lane said.
“There could be a player’s movement on and everything like that. It’s definitely a weird one but we haven’t been looking too far into the future.
“When the time comes to move on after this week, then we’ll do so and look towards the future then.”
Speaking on NRL360, co-host Braith Anasta believes incoming coach Ryles probably would have liked to see a little more “enthusiasm” from Lane.
“I look at that and think, ‘geez, you’d want a bit more enthusiasm than that’ but then I speak to Rylesy and I get enthusiasm from him,” Anasta said.
“You’d probably want get more out of your players. Even if you’re the coach going there and you’re watching that, you’re probably like ‘c’mon mate, let’s lift’. I know it’s the end of the year but I don’t think it’s the end of the world.”
“I think he’s just being candid,” Fox League’s James Hooper replied.
“He’s obviously thought, ‘well we’ve had the season from hell’.
“Yes the players need to be accountable but a lot of the issues that have arisen at that club have been driven by the administrators decision to sack their previous coach in Brad Arthur and their failed attempt to sign Wayne Bennett.”
Hooper then went onto say that he finds it odd that Ryles hasn’t actually stepped foot inside the Eels’ high performance centre or fronted the media, which sparked a fiery debate with The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis.
Hooper: I find it strange that he’s been appointed as head coach, we haven’t seen him in front of the camera, he hasn’t had to answer any questions, we haven’t seen him in a Eels polo shirt.
Carayannis: Well I think that’s out of respect for Trent Barrett.
Hooper: Is it? They threw Trent under the bus when they sacked Brad Arthur.
Carayannis: They didn’t throw him under the bus. He didn’t have to take the job.
Hooper: Who else was going to do it?
Carayannis: Are you criticising them for sacking Brad?
Hooper: I’m being critical of that administration. I have been all year.
Carayannis: Where’s Jason Ryles meant to sit? The head coach’s office? He’s met with the players a lot of times.
Hooper: All of them? It doesn’t look like he had met with Shaun Lane.
Carayannis: Shaun just looks like a bloke that just wants to get this whole thing over with, like how all of the club feels.
This prompted NRL360 co-host Gorden Tallis to say that if he was Ryles and going there next year, “I’m walking in the building”.
“He’s not hiding in the bushes … He’s had lots of meetings, lots of phone calls,” Carayannis replied.
Hooper said that in his opinion, Ryles should have had at least by now fronted the playing group in person.
“I think he’s delivered that message to if not all the players, most of them individually. I think that’s what he’s been going,” Carayannis said.